John William Carson was a renowned American television host, best known for his talk show 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'. The show, which aired for thirty years, was a huge success and ranked at 12th position on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. The show's popularity turned Carson into a well-known American icon. Born in Corning, Iowa, in the US, Carson wanted to become an entertainer from an early age. He started performing magic shows while still a young boy. After graduating he entered the United States Navy where he served for a few years. Later he began a career as a broadcaster on radio and television. He hosted shows such as 'Carson's Cellar' and 'The Johnny Carson Show'. He gained huge popularity and acclaim after he started presenting the talk show 'The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.' He hosted the show for a total of thirty years and won six Emmy Awards for his work. Not only was he inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, but he was also awarded with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He passed away at the age of 79 due to respiratory failure which was a result of his heavy smoking.